SEB Director of Events details struggles faced setting up the first SpringFest since 2019.

PULLMAN, WASH -Now that COVID-19 restrictions have laxed, concerts are able to happen more frequently. 

This allowed for WSU’s Student Entertainment Board to host their first SpringFest event since 2019. However, SEB’s Director of Events Olivia Burdick, who spearheaded the event this year, detailed the struggles she and SEB faced selling tickets this year.

“The current seniors were Freshman the last time we were able to have SpringFest, so a lot of the student body had no idea SpringFest was a thing,” Burdick said. 

Due to low early ticket sales, the event that was originally scheduled to be held in Beasley Coliseum was moved to the Compton Union Building Senior Ballroom. Olivia said the marketing strategy for this year’s event had to be changed as well. 

“Ticket sales were just not climbing,” said Burdick. “So I planned a pop-up event where we sold some free pizza. We made a QR code so people could buy tickets online. Originally, tickets had to be bought at the CougarCard center, so one of our main adjustments was to make sure students could buy tickets online.”

SEB’s Director of Films Jo Wyler said Olivia stepped up as a leader while setting up an event as large as SpringFest.

“She always had the answers, she was always a leader, and she was always very fun to work with,” said Wyler. 

Olivia said setting up SpringFest gave her valuable experience she can use for her jobs in the future. Burdick is set to graduate in May with a degree in Hospitality Business Management and will be working for the Marriott Voyager Program in September.